Learning about Careers In the Trades
High Value Signs recently had the honor of hosting a truly meaningful event — the very first shop tour for the Next Generation of Tradesmen Foundation (NGTF). The visit brought approximately 35 high school seniors to our facility for a morning focused on career exploration, hands-on learning, and discovering opportunities within the signage industry that many students had never considered before.
Founded to connect young people with rewarding skilled-trade and technical career paths, the Next Generation of Tradesmen Foundation is creating new opportunities for students to see firsthand what modern trades businesses look like and the many professional paths available within them. We were proud to serve as the foundation’s inaugural shop tour location and help introduce students to the world of signage manufacturing and installation.
For many of the students, the experience was eye-opening.
When most people think about signs, they typically picture the finished product — the illuminated storefront sign, monument sign, or branded graphics on a building. What they often do not realize is how many specialized careers and technical disciplines come together to create those finished products. The High Value Signs tour helped students learn signage is much more than fabrication alone. It is a business that combines creativity, technology, skilled trades, project management, and customer service into one highly collaborative environment.
Throughout the morning, students toured our facility and learned about the many departments and career opportunities that make High Value Signs successful. Team members explained how projects move from concept to completion and how different skill sets contribute to the process.
Career Opportunites In A Sign Company
The students were introduced to careers in:
- Sales
- Design
- Estimating
- Production
- Fabrication
- Installation
Each department offered students a different perspective on the business and showed how varied the opportunities are within the signage industry.
Our sales team discussed how relationship-building and communication skills help businesses identify signage solutions that support branding and visibility goals. Students learned that sales in the sign industry is not simply transactional — it often involves problem solving, consulting, and project coordination.
In the design department, students saw how creativity and technical software skills combine to create sign concepts that are both visually impactful and structurally feasible. Designers explained how branding, architecture, readability, and municipal code requirements all influence sign development.
The estimating team shared how detailed planning and mathematical accuracy are essential to keeping projects on budget and on schedule. Students gained insight into how estimating professionals analyze materials, labor, permitting, and installation logistics before a project ever enters production.
Inside the production and fabrication areas, students were able to see firsthand how signs are physically built. From routing and assembly to lighting and finishing, they witnessed the craftsmanship and precision required to produce high-quality signage. For many students, this was one of the most exciting parts of the tour because it connected technical trade skills with tangible, visible results.
The installation portion of the tour generated especially strong interest.
Students learned that sign installation is a highly skilled profession that combines technical knowledge, safety training, and field experience. Installers often work with electrical systems, welding, rigging equipment, cranes, and elevated work platforms. Team members explained how trades such as electrical work and welding are particularly valuable skills for anyone interested in pursuing a career in installation.
The students also had the opportunity to see one of our bucket trucks in action, giving them a closer look at the equipment and safety procedures involved in large-scale sign installations. For many attendees, it was their first exposure to this side of the industry.
One of the most important outcomes of the tour was helping students recognize that college is not the only path to a successful and fulfilling career. Skilled trades continue to offer strong career stability, advancement opportunities, and hands-on work environments that appeal to many young people. The signage industry in particular provides opportunities for individuals with a wide range of interests and strengths — from artistic and creative talents to technical and mechanical skills.
At High Value Signs, we believe exposure matters.
Many students simply are not aware that industries like signage exist as viable long-term career paths. By opening our doors and showing students what happens behind the scenes, we hope we helped broaden their understanding of the opportunities available to them after graduation.
Programs like those developed by the Next Generation of Tradesmen Foundation are critically important because they create direct connections between students and local businesses. These experiences allow students to ask questions, interact with professionals, and visualize themselves in careers they may never have encountered otherwise.
The energy and curiosity the students brought to the tour were inspiring. They asked thoughtful questions about career growth, certifications, training opportunities, and what day-to-day work looks like in each department. Several students expressed surprise at the combination of technology, creativity, and skilled trade work involved in the sign industry.
We were especially encouraged to see students realize that many career paths within signage do not necessarily require a traditional four-year degree. Instead, success can come through apprenticeships, on-the-job training, technical certifications, and learning specialized trade skills over time.
As the first-ever shop tour hosted for NGTF, the event represented more than just a facility visit — it marked the beginning of what we hope will become an ongoing effort to connect the next generation with meaningful career opportunities in the trades.
High Value Signs is grateful to the Next Generation of Tradesmen Foundation for choosing our company as its first tour location. We appreciate the work the organization is doing to support students, strengthen awareness of skilled trades, and help bridge the gap between education and industry.
We also want to thank the students, educators, and NGTF representatives who spent the morning with us. Their enthusiasm reinforced how valuable these experiences can be for young people preparing to make decisions about their futures.
The signage industry continues to evolve with advances in technology, manufacturing, digital displays, fabrication techniques, and project management systems. As the industry grows, so does the need for talented individuals who are eager to learn, solve problems, and build meaningful careers.
We are proud to play a small role in introducing students to those possibilities.
At High Value Signs, we believe the future of the trades is bright — and after meeting these students, we are even more confident that the next generation is ready to build it.
About The Author
Myra Brown, MBA brings years of experience designing, fabricating, and installing commercial signage for businesses across the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Her articles share practical insights, industry best practices, and real-world expertise to help businesses improve visibility and branding through professional signage.
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